Introduction

The International Van Wassenaer Competition is the world's first and oldest competition for early music ensembles. Since the 1^st edition in 1986 the competition has developed into a festival, including various competition rounds, concerts, master classes and lectures.

The International Van Wassenaer Festival & Competition strives for the following goals:

• Showing the importance and beauty of Early Music by the telling an appealing story.
• Showing the huge reservoir in today's early music movement: A source of knowledge, experience and entertainment (from musicologist to editor to harpsichord maker to musician), with particular focus toward sthe leading role of the Netherlands herein.
• Creating the opportunity for a new impetus in the early music movement.

Historical Outline

Internationally The Netherlands plays a leading role in the field of Historically Informed Performances. This can be seen in the relatively large numbers of Dutch names among performing musicians and specialised orchestras and ensembles in the field of Early Music, and the first rate professional music education system at Dutch music academies, attracting many talented overseas music students to our country and the Dutch instrument making trade.

The competition has gained an excellent reputation throughout the years and has proven to be a stimulating factor for many young professional musicians striving for a position in the field of (international) music. Participating in the International Van Wassenaer Competition offers ensembles the opportunity to gain valuable references and to network with professional concert organisations able to assist in furthering their careers. Many prizewinners have found their way to international concert performances, such as the Dutch ensembles Brisk, The Locke Consort, La Primavera, the British ensemble Florilegium and the Russian ensemble, Musica Petropoliana.

Every two years between 15 and 25 ensembles apply for the competition, and after a selection based on recordings, between 12-15 ensembles are admitted to the preliminary round. During the preliminary round ensembles play for 10 minutes; up to four ensembles are admitted to the finals by the Jury. In order to enlarge the effectiveness of the competition as a promotion tool for young ensembles and as halls, jurors and continuo instruments are available anyhow, various elements were added to the competition and a baroque festival was born.

Every edition of the International Van Wassenaer Festival & Competition focuses on a theme, together with an internationally renowned artist in residence.